A Chinese bronze circular mirror, Han dynasty. Photo courtesy Uppsala Auktion.

The small fluted loop framed by a band of interlinked archaic scrolls, with a steely patina and large patches of dark green encrustation. Diameter: 7.5 cm. Estimate: SEK 3.000 - 4.000 (EUR 330 - 440). Hammer price: SEK 3.600

Provenance: Axel Lagrelius (1863‑1944). Thence by descent.

Translation from Lagrelius’s original collection catalogue;
No. 31: Small, very thin mirror. The main decoration of c-shaped interlinked scrolls. The ground decorated with straight lines. Framed by a star-shaped figure. Dark green patina with green encrustations. From Shouchou and the latter part of the 2nd Century BC. Diameter 7.6 cm.

Two Chinese bronze mirrors, Han dynasty. Photo courtesy Uppsala Auktion.

One carved with a wide band of archaic decoration depicting what appears to be tigers, their bodies dissolving into scroll work, encircling a flat narrow band, in turn surrounding a circular carved plate surmounted by a moulded knob. One a simplified TLV-mirror, with the central knob set within a square frame from which radiates T-like motifs surrounded by alternately small birds and scrolling sprays and at each corner of the square a small boss, various bands of dogtooth pattern encircling. Diameter: 7.5 cm and 11 cm. Estimate: SEK 8.000 - 10.000 (EUR 880 - 1.100). Hammer price: SEK 6.000.

Provenance: Axel Lagrelius (1863‑1944). Thence by descent.

Found in Shouchou according to Orvar Karlbecks notes.

Translation from Lagrelius’s original collection catalogue;
No 29: Small bronze mirror. The main decoration, repeated three times, consists of the head and neck of an animal, possibly a tiger, on a mountain-chain of high mountains. The body dissolved in scrolls, and additionally part of a parallelogram. The mountain sections resting on the inner border of the mirror rim. The ground decorated with spirals inside small squares. Black patina. Diameter 11.2 cm. From Shouchou and the middle of the 2nd Century BC. This type is quite common in Souchou, but has as far as I am aware not be found elsewhere.
No 32: A simplified version of what is called a TLV mirror. The knob surrounded by a square frame from which radiates on each side a T-like motif. On one side of the T a small bird, probably a quail, and on the other side a stalk with buds and leaves. By each of the corners of the square are small bosses, usually termed nipples. On the thick rim a band of dogtooth pattern. The mirrored surface slightly convex, characteristic for almost all thick mirrors. Black and pale green patina. Site of discovery Shouchou. 1st Century BC. Diameter 7.6 cm.

A Chinese bronze ‘shan’ mirror, Eastern Zhou dynasty, Warring states period. Photo courtesy Uppsala Auktion.

The small fluted loop framed by a concave square border from which radiate four heart-shaped leaves, each supporting short straight stems terminating in further leaves, divided by four large grooved ‘T’ motifs converging from the raised rim, all on a fine ground of hooks, wings and feathers, with a steely patina and patches of dark green encrustation. Diameter: 12 cm. Estimate: SEK 12.000 - 15.000 (EUR 1.300 - 1.700). Hammer price: SEK 18.000.

Provenance: Axel Lagrelius (1863‑1944). Thence by descent.

A similar ‘shan’ (“mountain” characters) mirror is in the collection of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm, illustrated in Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, no. 9, 1937, pl. LX.3.

Translation from Lagrelius’s original collection catalogue; No. 30:
Bronze mirror of so called Shan-type, after the main decoration resembling the character Shan; meaning mountain. It is repeated four times. The ground is decorated with spirals. The type is very common and does not exist solely with four Shan (T-resembling) but with 1 to 7 of the same kind. It is one of the earliest types of decorated mirrors and dates to 6th – 3rd Century. This is the most exquisite and flawless example that I have seen. I bought it, if I remember correctly in Chengchou in Honan. The patina greyish green with encrustations. Was part of the Chinese art exhibition in London 1935‑36 and is illustrated in the catalogue (no. 425)

A Chinese bronze circular mirror, Eastern Han dynasty. Photo courtesy Uppsala Auktion.

The central knob encircled by a band of raised archaic animals, a further band of incised animals alternating with raised knobs, a narrow inscription band and further narrow bands of various dogtooth patterns, with a steely patina and patches of dark green encrustation. Diameter: 19 cm. Estimate: SEK 4.000 - 6.000 (EUR 440 - 660). Hammer price: SEK 19.000.

Provenance: Axel Lagrelius (1863‑1944). Thence by descent.

Translation from Lagrelius’s original collection catalogue;
No. 39: Large mirror with two dragons chasing each other and the head and upper body of a tiger, grinning at the first dragon, all in high, rounded relief. This section surrounded by a band applied with 8 ‘nipples’ and in between with animals or groups of animals outlined and with their characteristic traits in relief. The beings that rule the four heavenly quadrants are represented here. The turtle and the snake are easily recognisable, so is the tiger, depicted ahead of the turtle. In the next two sections a spirit? on two legs, who appears to offer something to the dragon turning his head backwards. Then follows the Red Bird with open wings. In the next section a recumbent ram or goat, being offered something by a kneeling spirit. Finally in the eighth section a four-legged animal with long horns. Outside of this section a small band of characters describing for example the four ruling animals. There are 25 characters and the script can be translated as follows: “From the green lucky metal a mirror has been made, that is without blemish. The dragon to the left and the tiger to the right eliminates all that is bad, The Red Bird and The Black Warrior follow the tenet of the yin-yang, protect the two parents for a long time, may they receive joy and happiness, and may they live as long as the metal and the stone, as 0.”
Grey patina with green encrustations, repaired. Diameter 18.8 cm.
A mirror much like this one is inscribed with an inscription that amongst other things tells that it was made during Chien An’s reign. He succeeded the throne in 186 AD.

A Chinese bronze circular mirror, Han dynasty. Photo courtesy Uppsala Auktion.

The central pierced knob encircled by a carved band of archaic contesting dragon and tiger, a further narrow band of dogtooth pattern and band of archaic stylised motif, with a steely patina and patches of dark green encrustation. Diameter: 12.5 cm. Estimate: SEK 8.000 - 10.000 (EUR 880 - 1.100). Hammer price: SEK 9.500

Provenance: Axel Lagrelius (1863‑1944). Thence by descent.

Translation from Lagrelius’s original collection catalogue;
No. 40: Small mirror with very thick rim and same type as the previous [No. 39 51799‑1594]. Around the central knob and partly concealed by it, a dragon and a tiger in battle. On the other side of the knob a man gives something to a deer. The patina on the mirror side black and pale green, on the other side mainly black. Same period as the previous i.e. 2nd Century BC.

A Chinese Tang mirror, Han dynasty. Photo courtesy Uppsala Auktion.

Four nipples dividing a raised decoration of the four heavenly quadrants; the heads and necks of the dragon, the tiger, the phoenix and the turtle, represented by a three-headed bird connected to s-shapes, and interspersed by further small birds, around the central pierced knob twelve flattened circular plates. Diameter: 15.5 cm. Estimate: SEK 12.000 - 15.000 (EUR 1.300 - 1.700). Hammer price: SEK 15.000

Provenance: Axel Lagrelius (1863‑1944). Thence by descent.

Translation from Lagrelius’s original collection catalogue;
No. 36: A thick mirror with a thick flat rim. The central zone with four ‘nipples’, divided in four equal parts, each adorned with the symbol representing a heavenly quadrant. The quadrants are regarded as the seat of four animals and these are or perhaps were: The Green Dragon of the East, The White Tiger of the West, The Red Bird of the South and The Black Warrior of the North. The latter commonly depicted as a turtle encircled by a snake. As it was believed that male turtles did not exist it had to procreate with a cold-blooded animal and then always with a snake. On this mirror the bronze foundryman has rearranged the cardinal points somewhat. Accordingly the dragon and the tiger occupy bordering fields. On all the animals only the heads and necks are depicted. The tiger and the dragon are easily recognisable and likewise the Red Bird, depicted in flight. The Black Warrior appears to be represented here by three birds. All necks rest on stretched s-shapes. Small birds of various kind are also depicted on each quadrant, some perched, some in flight. They may possible represent quails. Around the central knob are 12 circular plates. Bought in Shouchou and water patinated. 1st Century BC. Diameter 15.7 cm.

Uppsala Auktion, 13 june 2014. www.uppsalaauktion.se